Larimer County commissioners interested if Roberts Ranch offered

By Pamela Dickman

Posted:
02/04/2013 06:54:45 PM MST

Several residents at a Larimer County public hearing on whether to accept a donation of the Roberts Ranch, if offered, wore T-shirts Monday in favor of D.L., Burke and Ben Roberts, who are challenging whether the second wife of their father and grandfather has the right to give the Livermore-area ranch. Catherine Roberts planned to give the ranch to the county but has since withdrawn her offer. (Pamela Dickman)

FORT COLLINS -- If Catherine Roberts decides to offer her 16,500-acre ranch to Larimer County, elected officials would consider accepting the gift.

"The county is interested if that option should come forward," Commissioner Steve Johnson said at the end of a public hearing Monday.

"We're interested in developing the public purposes and interest for this property. I think a vote to accept the recommendation of the Open Lands board means we're open."

After about two hours of public testimony, much against county ownership of the Livermore-area Roberts Ranch, the elected commissioners voted 3-0 to accept the recommendation of the Open Lands Advisory Board that, if the ranch is offered, it fits within the county's open lands goals and should be considered.

Catherine Roberts offered the ranch to the county in December, triggering the public process on deciding whether it would fit within the county scope. Her offer drew criticism from the surrounding community and from the son and grandsons of her late husband, J. Evan Roberts; they said she was giving away their heritage out from under them.

A month later, Catherine rescinded her offer. But the county decided to go ahead with the process of deciding what to do if the offer or a similar one were to arise again.

The commissioners were quick to note that they sympathize with the family, but that a vote to accept does not obligate Catherine Roberts. The decision, they said, is still hers.

If she were to offer the land again, there are many questions raised by the public that would have to be addressed before the county could make a final decision, Johnson added.

Those include questions about the cost of removing tires, the actual cost of operating the land and the cost of protecting the land from trespassers and poachers. Several residents asked, where would the money come from if voters choose not to renew the county open space sales tax in 2018?

County staff, though, said the property would fit into the public portfolio offering educational opportunities, wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities that could alleviate demand on other county properties.

Their research shows that the start-up costs would be $400,000, and yearly costs would be $280,000 to $365,000, said Marc Engemoen, the county public works director. Both of those are well within the current budget for the Department of Natural Resources, he said.

D.L. Roberts, 79-year-old son of the late J. Evan Roberts, said he and his sons believe his father's wishes were to keep the land in the family and read a notarized statement from him to that effect.

He noted that 102 neighbors also signed a petition that if the county owns the property it would hurt them; several of those neighbors spoke at the hearing and wore T-shirts in support of "Saving the Roberts Family Ranch."

"I urge you to please refuse this gift, which at the present time, seems to be an effort in futility," said D.L. Roberts.

In the minority at the meeting, Loveland resident and open lands supporter Kathy Harman urged the board to accept the gift if given by Catherine Roberts.

"If she wants to donate the land and has title to it, you should accept it," said Hartman. "This would be spectacular property for the citizens of Larimer County who overwhelmingly voted to preserve land through their vote of the open space sales tax."

Commissioner Tom Donnelly said his family lives on a ranch settled shortly after the Roberts Ranch, and he understands the concern of the family of having the land gifted out from under them. However, he noted that any legal question of ownership will be decided outside the realm of the county.

"This is really a hard situation; my family's known D.L. for a very long time," Donnelly said. "He's a very good man and I have a lot of respect for him and his family.